Splashing toward success

Friday

May 10, 2013 at 7:36 AM

First the NBA had the "Thunder Buddies" — the affectionate nickname given to the Oklahoma City Thunder duo Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Now the league has the "Splash Brothers" — Golden State's sharp-shooting tandem of young guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who have become two of the stars of the playoffs.

Kelly McElroyStaff Writer

First the NBA had the "Thunder Buddies" — the affectionate nickname given to the Oklahoma City Thunder duo Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Now the league has the "Splash Brothers" — Golden State's sharp-shooting tandem of young guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who have become two of the stars of the playoffs. With Westbrook out for the rest of this postseason, the Splash Brothers, a name given to them because of the splashing sound their shots make when the go through the net, have emerged as arguably the most dynamic duo left in the Western Conference playoffs.I mean these dudes can flat out shoot the basketball. Whether in the half-court, in transition, wide open, contested or with people running at them, they can flat out light it up.I'm sure you've heard by now, but their coach Mark Jackson has called them the greatest shooting back court in NBA history.Now if you don't know, Mark Jackson knows basketball.The dude played in the NBA for close to 20 years and is considered one of the greatest point guards ever. He is also considered a great student and historian of the game.It may be a little premature of a statement being that Thompson and Curry have only been playing together for a little more than a full season, but when it comes to basketball, it's hard not to trust Jackson. People have been knowing about Curry, the son of former NBA player Dell Curry, for a while — since the younger Curry starred at Davidson College.Stephen Curry is in his fourth season. He averaged 17.5 and 18.6 points a game his first two seasons and was injured in 2011-12 and played in just 26 games.But this season, he averaged just under 23 points a contest and is averaging 26.5 points in the playoffs.Thompson, the son of former NBA leaper Mychal Thompson and a second-year player from Washington State, averaged 12.5 points as a rookie and 16.6 this season and has burst onto the scene of late.Thompson went off for 34 points on Wednesday night's win over the Spurs and made 8-of-9 3-pointers. Starting with the Spurs for the rest of this Western Conference semifinal playoff series, which is tied at 1, teams are going to have to try and figure out a way to stop Curry and Thompson.And while Curry and Thompson get most of the pub, guys like former Hornets players Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, a revitalized Andrew Bogut, and explosive rookie Harrison Barnes have also been key for the Warriors, who have been without all-star David Lee of late, who is out with an injury.Led by Curry and Thompson's shooting, the Warriors, who went 47-35 this season and are the sixth seed in the West, are a blast to watch play, and Jackson has done a tremendous job coaching them after coming out of the television booth. The Warriors may not win the NBA title this season, but one thing is for sure, the combination of Thompson, Curry and Jackson will be winning games in the NBA for a long time to come.It may just take a couple of years for them to make that NBA finals splash.

Staff Writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or at kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.